Hogwarts: My Grandmother is the Queen

This action instantly silenced the corridor.

A Gryffindor bows to Slytherin in gratitude, and does so so formally and publicly...

Wow, the last time something like this happened was the last time.

Harry quickly stepped forward, his tone sincere: "Yes, thank you, Your Highness Henry. Hermione is our friend, we...we are all very grateful that you did the right thing."

Ron, standing behind Harry, reluctantly muttered, "Um... thanks."

His voice was so soft it was like a mosquito's hum, but at least he said it.

It seems he's still sticking to his principle that Slytherins are untouchables.

Henry readily accepted their thanks, nodding slightly. "You're too kind, Miss Granger, Mr. Potter, and Mr. Weasley. I believe any responsible Hogwarts student would have made the same choice in a similar situation. It's good to see you safe and sound, Miss Granger. Miss Greengrass's keen observation was key; I merely did what I was supposed to do: relay the message."

His response was appropriate and generous, neither overly humble to the point of seeming hypocritical, nor arrogant to the point of taking credit.

He defined the behavior as a student's responsibility, cleverly defusing the awkwardness of the conflict between the colleges.

Hermione straightened up, her eyes still a little moist, but a relieved smile appeared on her face.

She bit her lip, as if making up her mind, and spoke again, this time in a softer but firmer voice: "Also... Harry, Ron, and I have discussed it... and we'd like to... if it won't bother you, we'd like to invite you for a cup of tea as a token of our gratitude."

After she finished speaking, as if afraid that Henry might find it abrupt or have ulterior motives, she quickly added, "It can be in the lounge area outside the auditorium or library, or anywhere you find convenient. The time is up to you!"

This invitation caused the students around, who had been listening intently, to widen their eyes once again. The Gryffindor trio were inviting Henry from Slytherin for tea? This was practically a Hogwarts version of an icebreaker!

Draco let out an incredulous chuckle, and Pansy and Daphne exchanged surprised glances, while the other Slytherin and Gryffindor students also wore expressions of disbelief.

Henry was slightly surprised and was also pondering.

Publicly refusing would not only seem petty and betray Hermione's good intentions in summoning her courage, but could also cost her the opportunity to extend her influence to Gryffindor.

As for whether the other Slytherins who are extremely anti-Gryffindor care...

Are you teaching me how to do things?

Moreover, he speculated that the system activation progress might be related to inviting people from different colleges to the tea party.

Thinking of this, a gentle smile appeared on his face: "I am honored to receive such an invitation. In fact, I plan to study in that vacant classroom on the east side of the second floor this afternoon. It's relatively quiet there. If you don't mind the simple environment, you can come over around four o'clock, and we can have a cup of tea and chat briefly. Of course, it all depends on your willingness and time."

He provided a specific but discreet location and time, emphasizing the informality of studying and simply chatting, and returned the decision-making power to the other party, giving them ample room for consideration and reconsideration, which showed both sincerity and consideration.

Hermione's eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously. "Okay! Four o'clock, the unused classroom on the east side of the second floor! We'll be there on time! Thank you, Your Highness Henry!"

She seemed very excited.

Harry visibly relaxed and nodded with a smile. Ron's expression remained awkward, but at least he didn't object, and even secretly glanced at Henry, his wariness seeming to have lessened slightly.

"See you this afternoon," Henry said with a smile, leading Draco and the others back to the classroom.

After taking a few steps, Draco impatiently grabbed Henry: "Your Highness! You...you really want to have tea with Potter and the others? With that Weasley? And that...Ms. Know-It-All?"

He almost blurted out that word again, but swallowed it back under Henry's gaze.

“Why not, Draco?” Henry countered, his tone light. “They thanked me openly and sincerely, and extended an invitation. Polite acceptance is basic etiquette, and it’s part of my upbringing. It’s not about academic stances, it’s about personal interactions.”

He paused, lowered his voice, and said in a volume that only a small circle could hear, "And Draco, remember what I said? Get close to your friends, but get even closer to your adversaries. Only then will you know what they're thinking and what they're doing."

You know what, this statement is incredibly profound for these eleven-year-old kids.

Pansy said thoughtfully, "It seems... to make some sense. At least we'd know what they're thinking, instead of spending all our time guessing."

Daphne softly echoed, "Granger... she was really sincere when she thanked me. I think she's probably not a bad person, just a bit competitive."

Draco frowned, engaged in a fierce internal struggle.

Finally, he snorted, "Fine, anyway... just don't let them think we Slytherins are easy to talk to."

"Of course." Henry patted him on the shoulder. "We're just having tea and chatting, not signing an alliance treaty. Maintaining decorum, keeping our distance, and getting the information we need—that's the Slytherin way."

At four o'clock in the afternoon, there were empty classrooms on the second floor.

Henry arrived at the empty classroom early and had Lucy do some simple setup.

The tablecloth was a clean, deep blue, and the teaware was the white porcelain standard used at Hogwarts. The tea snacks included butter cookies, jam tarts, and frosted cakes. There was no silverware, no bone china, and no three-tiered dessert stand; everything was kept simple to create a relaxed, informal environment that would not put any pressure on the children from Gryffindor—especially the Weasleys, whose family might not be financially well-off.

At exactly four o'clock, the knocking sounded on the door.

The Gryffindor trio appeared at the door right on time.

Hermione seemed to have tidied her hair, wearing her warm yellow sweater and holding a few books. Harry looked more relaxed than in the morning, while Ron curiously surveyed the classroom, seemingly assessing whether some Slytherin conspiracy was hidden there.

"Please come in," Henry stood up to greet them, his attitude casual and natural. "I just finished cleaning up, I hope you don't mind."

"This is great!" Hermione exclaimed quickly, glancing at the simple furnishings with a hint of surprise in her eyes.

She had imagined that the prince's afternoon tea party would be extremely luxurious, but she never expected it to be so down-to-earth.

However, after thinking about it, she felt it made sense, since this prince usually... at least on television programs, acted as approachable as his mother.